“Yeah, but it’s just not very sexy, is it?” That’s what we hear every time we bring up workflows. 

Let’s get real: AI doesn’t fail because the tech isn’t smart. 

We were in a strategy session with a client. They were gearing up for an AI pilot to improve quality control. Their developers were enthusiastic. Their executives were sold. But when we asked about the current workflow, someone laughed and said, “Honestly? Just ask Dave.” 

Every business has a Dave—the person who knows the workaround, the undocumented process, the tribal logic behind how things actually get done.

The AI pilot fails because it gets bolted onto chaos. 

The Quiet Scaffolding You’re Ignoring

Workflows are the boring cousin of strategy—quiet, invisible, unglamorous. The stuff you bury behind your shiny AI pilot. But they’re also the foundation, and if your foundation is cracked, your AI house will fall down.

Most businesses are running on:

  • Undocumented processes
  • Disconnected systems
  • Legacy workarounds
  • Tribal knowledge (read: “just ask Dave”)

Then they invest in AI like it’s some miracle solution. Spoiler: It’s not.

You Can’t Plug Intelligence Into Spaghetti

You can’t expect AI to bring clarity to something fundamentally messy. Before you think about transformation, you need to clean up the plumbing.

That starts with understanding your workflows: 

  • What’s happening? 
  • Where is it happening? 
  • Why is it happening that way?

“We Know Where the Problems Are” – But Do You?

Another classic line: “Oh, we already know where the problems are.”

Of course you do. The loudest people in the room told you.

But have you:

  1. Mapped the process?
  2. Measured the cost?
  3. Estimated the return on fixing it?

If not, you’re guessing. You’re trusting anecdote over evidence. That’s not strategy. That’s roulette.

The Bias Toward the Shiny

There’s a heavy bias toward using AI to generate new revenue streams. It’s easier to sell. It’s more exciting. It’s the sexy side of AI. 

But real, sustainable value? It’s in operational clarity—and it’s often ignored. Efficiency isn’t just trimming fat. It’s freeing up resources, reducing friction, and building resilience. 

Workflows Are the AI Force Multiplier

Workflows help you:

  • See what’s really happening—not what you assume
  • Prioritise based on data, not noise
  • Quantify the impact of AI—not just hope for it
  • Avoid biased, opinion-led decision-making

Without them, you’re flying blind—on very expensive autopilot software.

So No, Workflows Aren’t Sexy

But Do You Know What Is?

  • Knowing
  • Saving
  • Fixing
  • Scaling

That’s what workflows give you. And if you want AI to work—start there.

Ready to Make AI Actually Work?

Before you launch your next pilot, contact us to run a Workflow Readiness Assessment.

We’ll help you map the mess and make your AI efforts stick. 

Suzanne Costa

Suzanne Costa

Suzanne has spent over 20 years building the operational foundations that make innovation sustainable. She’s held executive roles across global research, technology, and digital services firms, including as Chief Operations Officer and SVP of Strategic Operations and IT. She’s led cross-functional teams across North America and Europe integrating systems, embedding new technologies, and delivering lasting change. 

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